Onam is an ancient ten day harvest festival celebrated by the people of Kerala in honor of mythical King Mahabali’s annual visit from the netherworld to see his people living happily. The ten days of Onam are celebrated with great fanfare in the month of Chingam, the first month of Malayalam calendar. Of all these days, most important ones are the first day, Atham, and the tenth and final day, Thiru Onam. In 2014, Thiru Onam is on Sunday, September 7.